SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

AUTHORIZATION:

Small Business Act of 1953, Sections 2, 8, 9, and 15, Public Law 85-536, as amended, 15 U.S.C. 631, 637, 698 and 640; Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, Sections 401, 402, 406 and 407, Public Law 88-452, as amended, 42 U.S.C. 2901, 2902, 2906b, and 2906c; Section 501, Public Law 95-89; Section 502, 15 U.S.C. 644; Public Law 95-507, Section 221; Public Laws 98-577, 98-369, 100-590, 100-656, 101-515, 101- 574, 103-355, and 103-403.

OBJECTIVES:

To assist small business in obtaining a "fair" share of contracts and subcontracts for Federal government supplies and services and a "fair" share of property sold by the government.

TYPES OF ASSISTANCE:

Provision of Specialized Services.

USES AND USE RESTRICTIONS:

Assistance includes: (1) application of small business set-asides (restriction of bidding/award to small business only) to increase the Federal procurement and disposal requirements awarded to small business; (2) consultation with procuring activities on structuring of procurement and sales planning to optimize small business participation; (3) review and analysis of small firms capacity, credit, integrity, perseverance, and tenacity when challenged by contracting officers and certifying competence of such firms to perform as prime contractors, as appropriate, and monitoring performance of certificate of competency holders throughout contract life; (4) review of subcontracting plans and programs of large prime contractors to determine the extent that they are providing subcontracting opportunities to small, small disadvantaged, and women-owned small businesses; (5) consultation and advice for small firms requesting assistance on government procurement or property sales matters; (6) assistance in specific contract administration problems; (7) determination of small business eligibility for SBA's procurement and financial programs; (8) advocate breakout of items from sole source for procurement through full and open competition in order to achieve savings; (9) review small business program at Federal procuring activities to evaluate effect on small business participation and recommend changes; and (10) management of the Procurement Marketing and Access Network (PRO-Net), a nationwide Internet database of information on small business, a marketing tool for small firms and a "link" to procurement opportunities.

ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS:

Applicant Eligibility:   Existing and potential small businesses are eligible to apply. A small business is a business entity organized for profit, with a place of business located in the United States and which makes a significant contribution to the U.S. economy through payment of taxes and/or use of American Products, materials and/or labor. Generally for manufacturers, average employment not in excess of 500; wholesalers, average employment not in excess of 500; general construction, revenues not over $17,000,000; special trade, revenues not over $7,000,000; retail and services concerns, revenues not over $5,000,000; and agricultural enterprises, gross annual sales not over $500,000.

Beneficiary Eligibility:   Existing and potential small businesses will benefit.

Credentials/Documentation:   Self-certification of documentation is sufficient.

APPLICATION AND AWARD PROCESS:

Preapplication Coordination:   None. This program is excluded from coverage under E.O. 12372.

Application Procedure:   Forms to obtain necessary assistance are provided by SBA field offices.

Award Procedure:   Not applicable.

Deadlines:   None.

Range of Approval/Disapproval Time:   The range is about 15 days for certificate of competency; no approval is required on other programs.

Appeals:   Not applicable.

Renewals:   Not applicable.

ASSISTANCE CONSIDERATIONS:

Formula and Matching Requirements:   Not applicable.

Length and Time Phasing of Assistance:   There is no time restriction for small businesses.

POST ASSISTANCE REQUIREMENTS:

Reports:   Not applicable.

Audits:   Not applicable.

Records:   Not applicable.

FINANCIAL INFORMATION:

Account Identification:   73-0100-0-1-376.

Obligations:   (Salaries and Expenses) FY 99 $13,529,232; FY 00 est $16,930,079; and FY 01 est $14,129,000.

Range and Average of Financial Assistance:   Not applicable.

PROGAM ACCOMPLISHMENTS:

In fiscal year 1999, $10.4 billion in government prime contracts was set-aside for procurement limited to small businesses.

REGULATIONS, GUIDELINES, AND LITERATURE:

Title 13, Code of Federal Regulations, Part 125; "Government Contracting Programs;" Government Contracting home page on the Internet at http://www.sba.gov/gc and information from SBA offices. (See listing of field offices in Appendix IV of the Catalog.)

INFORMATION CONTACTS: